Putting practice device



Jan. 30, 1962 K. R. WESTLING 3,019,023

PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE Filed April 25, 1960 Fig.2. Fig.4.

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his ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,019,023 PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE Kenneth R. Westling, 716 Parkway Ave.,

. Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,581 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-177) The present invention relates generally to the game of golf and, more specifically, to a device for approximating actual playing conditions on the putting green.

It is well known that the act of putting the ball into the cup of each green of the golf course requires greater accuracy than the long shots olf the tee and the approach shots to the green. For the non-professional player, the short-game offers better opportunities for reducing his total score than does the first and second shots from the tee.

Putting of the ball can more readily be practiced off the golf course than any other act of play in golf. Practice can be conducted on the floor of the home as well as on the lawn about the home. Prior art devices for practice of putting on the living room carpet or on the linoleum of the game room offers some aid in developing a sense of direction when stroking the ball but lack means for developing the accuracy necessary to drop the ball into the actual cup on the green.

The experienced golfer knows that the grain of the turf and the slope of the green about the cup present changing conditions at each green, which he must compensate for when putting. He also knows that a ball stroked too hard may roll across the cup, or a ball whose line of travel is at a tangent to the periphery of the cup will tend to roll around or rim the cup, instead of dropping into the cup. It is also well known that it is an aid in making long putts to leave the flag in the cup. The prior art devices for practicing putting do not approximate these playing conditions.

One object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice putting device which closely approximates actual putting conditions on a golf course.

This and other objects of the invention will be made apparent from the following specification and the drawing forming a part thereof wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of one form of the practice putting device;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of a modification of the device of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the device of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the device is preferably formed of relatively stiff shape retaining wire to provide a hollow circular portion 1 approximating the size and shape of the top of a standard cup on a golf course putting green. Extending inwardly from a point on the periphery of circular portion 1 to the center thereof is a Wire portion 2 which terminates in an upwardly extending portion 3 representing the flag pole centered in the golf cup. At the top of the portion or pole 3 may be a representation of the customary marker flag 4, In the modified form as shown in FIG. 3, the annular portion 1a has portion 1b extending up wardly from a point on the periphery of 1a a distance preferably greater than the diameter of a golf ball. The portion 1b terminates in a substantially horizontal in- "ice wardly extending portion 2a which in turn terminates at the center of 1a in an upwardly extending portion 3a. At the top 3a may be a portion 4a representing the usual marker flag. The device may be painted any appropriate color, so as to be visible against the background with which it is used.

In use, the device is supported by its base portion 1 or 11a upon any suitably flat surface and :a standard golf ball is stroked by a suitable putter to putt the ball from a remote position into the annular portion. 1 or 1a. The ball may be initially positioned any distance remote from the device as may be desired or conditions permit. A player standing adjacent the ball may assume his favorite stance and stroke the ball with a selected force estimated by him as sufficient to roll the ball into the enclosure formed by the portion 1 or 1a. Thus the putt is executed under conditions which approximate actual playing conditions upon the golf course, with respect to the cup opening and the flag.

The diameter, inner or outer, of portion 1 or 1a is preferably the size of the standard cup. Thus, except for the surface over which the ball moves in approaching the cup, the player aims the ball under standard playing conditions. For a short putt, he may ignore the portion 3. For a long putt, actual playing conditions are where the flag remains in the cup. Thus the player obtains the advantages of identifying the location of the center of the cup.

The material from which the device is formed is preferably a continuous round wire about A5" in diameter. Such a size wire offiers little impedance to a golf ball rolling over it. Where desired, this wire of base portion 1 may be flattened to offer less impedance to the ball. A ball entering the enclosure 1 and remaining there may normally be considered as entering the cup, under actual playing conditions. On the other hand, a ball approaching the device at a tangent to the periphery of enclosure 1 or 1a may enter the enclosure or roll around the periphery thereof, in approximation of actual playing conditions where the ball drops or rims the cup.

The modified form of the device as shown in FIG. 3 embodies the advantages of the flag indicating the center of the cup yet leaves the ball free to roll over the cup without impedance from the flag pole. The presence of the flag pole is well known to be an aid to putting in actual playing. Frequently one member of a group will position the flag adjacent the rear of the cup as an aid to a player during putting. Thus the device of FIG. 3 aids in approximating actual playing conditions during its use in practicing both long and short putts.

Experienced golfers using this devise have found that the base made of round Wire, and more particularly, where the base wire is flattened, offers little interference to the ball in putts over 12 inches long. Thus putts of this distance and greater distances which drop into the cup on a standard green will roll over the wire and remain within the base circle. Thus the use of this device in practicing putting enables the user to develop a sense of direction and the feel of the putter in determining how hard to stroke the ball.

Having described the preferred forms of my invention and the mode of use thereof, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that variations in the details of the device may be made without departing from the basic improvement and the scope of the appended claims. 2. The golf putting home practice device 'asdefined I claim: in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a member ex- 1. A golf putting home practice device simulating tending upwardly from one side of the ring base member upon a floor surface actual playing conditions at the cup and terminating in an inturned portion secured to the and flag pole of a standard putting green of a golf 5 bottom of said upright portion and maintaining it above course, consisting of in combination a golf ball rolling within said ring base member.

a ring shaped base portion defining an opening approxi- References Cited in the file of this patent mately the size of the cup opening in a golf course green, UNITED STATES PATENTS an upright portion disposed at approximately the center 10 1,511,449 Fergusson Oct. 14, 1924 of said ring opening and extending a substantial 1,959,347 Czichos May 22, 1934 distance above said base portion simulating a cup 2,094,320 Fijux Sept. 28, 1937 flagpole, 1 2,457,759 Wales Dec. 28, 1948 said base portion having a bottom surface shaped to 2,899,207 Billinghurst Aug; 11, 1959 lay flat upon a supporting surface and a top surface 15 2,929,628 Lane Mar. 22, 1960 disposed at distance above the bottom surface pro viding a minimum of impedence to a golf ball roll- FOREIGN PATENTS ing thereover, and 7,897 Great Britain of 1894 means connecting said upright portion to said base 315,915 Great Britain .July 22,1929 1 portion 2 358,914 Great Britain .Oct. 14,1931 f 

